Kushner acts as White House proxy in Iran peace talks amid conflict of interest concerns.

Jared Kushner intended to settle into a quiet life in Miami for his father-in-law's second term. The President instead decided to wage war against Iran. He turned to Kushner, the billionaire husband of his eldest daughter, for help ending the conflict. Kushner has served as a civilian proxy for the White House alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff. Together they met Hamas, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, and Iranian negotiators. After brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Kushner prepared to return to his Miami fund. Iran pulled him back for negotiations in Pakistan in April. He flew with Witkoff and Vice President Vance for 21 hours of talks. Kushner described the experience as actually pretty epic. He is now working on a memorandum of understanding to cease hostilities. Critics warn of a conflict of interest involving his financial firm. They claim billions flow into his fund from influential leaders in the region. Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, called Kushner a crummy investor. Wyden stated his only value was his proximity to his father-in-law. He accused Kushner of setting up a massive fund drawing on Middle East oil money. The fund was established in summer 2021 during the closing days of the first term. Investment agreements were timed to expire when Kushner would hold massive leverage. Almost all money managed by Affinity Partners comes from foreigners. Billions from Saudi Arabia and millions from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates flowed in. These nations are directly involved in the war with Iran. On Friday, Trump reviewed terms with Iran in the Situation Room. He said he would make a final determination on Iran's fate. The President asked for changes to the memorandum of understanding. Negotiators are going back and forth on the details. An insider believes the President is in a pretty good place on the deal. Central to the deal is a $300 billion investment fund for Iran. The fund is meant to rebuild infrastructure and the economy. This figure worries some on the right about handing money to hardliners. Those close to negotiations push back on that characterization. An insider stated there is no promise to give them money.

US officials arrived in Islamabad on April 11, 2026, to discuss ending the Middle East conflict while a two-week ceasefire remained in effect. The delegation included special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. They met with Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishak Dar and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir upon landing in the capital city.

Kushner stated that nations must make their countries investable to receive financial help for development. He clarified that investable nations cannot pursue nuclear weapons or fund terrorism. After twenty-one hours of intense negotiation, a source told the Daily Mail that Kushner described the trip as actually pretty epic.

Kushner worked alongside Witkoff and Vance during peace talks with Iranian officials in Pakistan. An insider noted that Kushner's friendly relationships with Middle Eastern leaders have proven helpful for finding a peaceful resolution to the war. These connections were built during Trump's first term and continue to the present day.

Those close to Kushner within the administration gave full-throated endorsements of his ability to strike another peace deal in the region. A senior Trump administration official described him as a hell of a negotiator and an incredible architect of peace. The official also called him a great visionary for the region.

One official recalled flying from Israel to Abu Dhabi on September 1, 2020, when phone calls between the two countries were impossible. Now the nations defend against missiles together and compete in artificial intelligence technology. Jared was part of the architect of that change while working for President Trump.

A second administration official said Kushner is kind of the only person that has the experience on their resume of having done this before. They called the president's son-in-law uniquely qualified for these difficult negotiations. A third official was more blunt and asked if he is effective, with the answer being yes. The Abraham Accords serve as a proof of concept for his effectiveness.

Kushner's involvement in Middle East policy is nothing new as a presidential advisor during Trump's first term. He was the primary architect of the Abraham Accords, a groundbreaking framework that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations. He also oversaw the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that ended their war. That deal had eluded the Biden administration and remained out of reach in Trump's second term until Kushner was brought back in.

This time around, the stakes are higher and the complications far greater than previous efforts. Kushner and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are close in age and have spoken together at the White House in November. The President's son-in-law was central to negotiating the Abraham Accords during Trump's first term to normalize relations between Israel and Middle Eastern countries.

Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump are pictured at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, highlighting their central role in current geopolitical events. With the United States and Iran now engaged in active hostilities, Kushner's reputation as a Middle East diplomat has intensified significantly. Global observers await a resolution to these tensions while simultaneously monitoring the stability of international energy markets. Simultaneously, Kushner faces the obligation to generate financial returns for investors in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. These backers have poured billions of dollars into his Miami-based investment vehicle, Affinity Partners. The presidential son-in-law's concurrent duties have sparked significant concern in Washington and international circles alike. Critics question his ability to reconcile loyalty to President Trump with financial obligations to state-backed foreign entities. Senator Wyden stated that Kushner negotiates wartime investments from these nations while simultaneously securing new capital from the same sources. Wyden described this situation as a profound conflict of interest that compromises American safety and fuels governmental corruption. The Senator has conducted an ongoing investigation into the dual roles Kushner occupies within the administration. Government watchdogs have expressed deep concern regarding the division between Kushner's political duties and his private business operations. Cynthia Brown of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington noted that Kushner continues to shape foreign policy since his February appointment. She emphasized that Kushner has failed to file public financial disclosures that would reveal conflicts between his personal wealth and official responsibilities. Although technically a private citizen rather than a federal employee, Kushner remains a frequent presence at White House functions. He is still regularly consulted by the West Wing on critical matters despite his status as a private investor. Kushner met his wife Ivanka in 2005 and they tied the knot in 2009. Colleagues who have worked alongside the President's son-in-law describe him as a man of high integrity and strong moral character. They claim he becomes visibly angry when reports attempt to damage his professional reputation unfairly. One Trump official characterized him as scrupulously honest, respectful, and fundamentally ethical in all his dealings. Kushner established Affinity Partners in July 2021 shortly after departing from his role in the White House. He serves as the founder, chief executive officer, and sole owner through the entity A Fin Management LLC. SEC filings from 2025 indicate that the firm manages approximately $6.16 billion in total assets. Nearly 99 percent of this sum, totaling $6.1 billion, originates from foreign clients who are not United States citizens. Sources confirmed to the Daily Mail that the fund value has now approached the $7 billion mark. The overwhelming majority of Affinity Partners' capital is sourced directly from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Public Investment Fund, controlled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a close friend of Kushner's, committed $2 billion. This massive injection of funds occurred shortly after which hundreds of millions of additional dollars arrived from Emirati investors.

More than $200 million entered the deal from an Emirati sovereign fund. Additional millions arrived from Lunate, a company based in Abu Dhabi. Qatar also participated by committing money from the Qatar Investment Authority.

All three nations face significant risks if the US and Iran continue their conflict. Ian Brekke, the Chief Legal Officer of Affinity, addressed concerns for the Daily Mail. He stated that Jared Kushner has followed every law and requirement. Brekke added that Kushner always acted in the best interests of the United States.

Kushner dismissed questions about potential conflicts of interest. He claimed his unique experience makes him perfect for negotiation. Speaking on 60 Minutes last year, he reframed the issue. 'What people call conflicts of interest, Steve and I call experience and trusted relationships that we have throughout the world,' Kushner said. He argued that without these deep connections, hostage releases would not have happened.

Interviewees could not identify any specific infractions by Kushner. They found no evidence of actions harming US interests. Another official from the Trump administration supported this view. This person stated that no one could prove Kushner pursued policies against the nation. They described his regional ties as assets rather than liabilities. Relationships with leaders in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the Emirates were highlighted as positive traits.